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Originally Posted by Mere
I have tried Neurontin and Lyrica several times with bad effect. When I tried the Neurontin last time, I started at a dosage of 300 mg/day. I did not notice any improvement in my pain at that dosage - even after two months time. When it was upped to 900 mg per day, I did have some small relief in pain though the side effects were pitted edema and confusion/irritability. I noticed the confusion/irritability with the smaller dosage as well. The slight improvement in pain and pitted edema occurred rather quickly after the increased dosage - perhaps within one week. Therefore, it was discontinued. Hope this helps.
I have been successfully taking Savella, 50 mg bid for three months now. I hope it continues to work without fall off. I also take Lortab - 1-4 tabs per day for pain depending on my pain level. I do have several pain issues including the SFN, dysautonomia, FMS and undifferentiated AI/arthritis disease. The pain medicine helps me to maintain a more active lifestyle, although I am still on SSD (and wish I were not). I have been on Lortab for many years. Successfully, I might add, meaning: I have not required an escalation in dosage, my liver is still functioning well without an increase in liver enzymes, and I automatically take less of the drug if I am feeling better. I am sure that I am dependent on it, but not addicted. The same doctor has prescribed it to me all along.
Mere
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First I heard of this. Does it work for P.N in the feet?
How Does Savella Work?
SNRIs such as Savella affect specific chemicals within the brain known as serotonin and norepinephrine. These are two of several chemicals used to send messages from one nerve cell to another.
As a message travels down a nerve, it causes the end of the cell to release serotonin or norepinephrine. The serotonin or norepinephrine enters the gap between the first nerve cell and the one next to it. When enough reaches the second nerve cell, it activates receptors on the cell, and the message continues on its way. The first cell then quickly absorbs any serotonin or norepinephrine that remains in the gap between the cells. This is called "reuptake."
Although Savella is an SNRI medication, it is not entirely clear how it works for fibromyalgia pain.